Armstrong Garden Centers continues to lead the way in taking steps to reduce water usage in California. California’s largest employee-owned independent retail nursery is converting large traditional lawn areas at 11 stores to a more waterwise landscaping.
“We have a responsibility to show how simple it can be for Californians to have a beautiful lawn and garden while still being reasonable with limited water resources,” said Armstrong Garden Centers President Monte Enright. “As a responsible horticulturist and California native, I know that less water doesn’t mean we have to settle for less beauty in our neighborhoods and communities.”
Natural grass areas at the Pasadena and Torrance Armstrong Garden Centers store locations have been replaced with inspirational demonstration gardens. These gardens are open to customers and the general public to view a variety of water-saving options for green thumbs and beginners alike.
The experience is designed to show how many visually appealing options are currently available when it comes to drought-tolerant and low-water plants and landscaping.
Armstrong Garden Centers’ stores in Claremont, Costa Mesa, Dublin, El Cajon, Glendora, La Canada, La Habra, San Juan Capistrano and Westchester are all scheduled to undergo landscape improvements in the coming weeks.
The warm summer season means that improved store gardens will provide businesses and communities throughout the state with practical solutions and valuable water-saving tips for any landscape, existing or new.
“Giving up and accepting a ‘brown is the new green’ watering philosophy doesn’t have to be how we deal with the stewardship of our beautiful state,” said Enright. “We are ready to help homeowners and gardeners improve the health of their lawns and gardens while greatly reducing water consumption.”
Research shows that Californians use up to 25% more water than they need in order to maintain healthy, beautiful gardens. Experts from Armstrong Garden Centers are available to demonstrate how to have a healthier garden and landscape by watering less, but more effectively, all within compliance of current watering regulations.
Here are 10 simple things you can do to save water outdoors:
1. Mulch
2. Repair and adjust sprinklers
3. Install a smart sprinkler controller
4. Add lots of compost to your soil
5. Minimize water loss in pots
6. Use trigger sprayers when hand-watering
7. Use organic fertilizers
8. Water deeper, but less often
9. Change watering times with the seasons
10. Water early in the morning
Armstrong Garden Centers also offers waterwise and garden consultation services to maximize watering efficiency. Homeowners may set home visit appointments with expert nursery professionals from Armstrong Garden Centers to help identify ways to reduce outdoor water usage, such as sprinkler audits, soil moisture retention tests, plant reviews and other water-saving opportunities. Customers that choose to receive consultation services will receive added in-store incentives.
For more information on waterwise gardening, please visit www.armstronggarden.com.
Armstrong Garden Centers
Armstrong Garden Centers specializes in a quality selection of garden lifestyle retail and landscape consultation services. Established in 1889, this employee-owned company has served California for 126 years, taking the guesswork out of gardening through innovation and providing the best leaders in customer service. Armstrong Garden Centers is the largest independent retail nursery in California with 32 locations and three growing facilities. For more information on Armstrong Garden Centers and gardening tips, visit www.armstronggarden.com and www.armstronggrowers.com.
